Deputy Head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission in Iranian Parliament, Esmaeil Kowsari

Iran's authorities are determined to launch more nuclear power plants across the country, a prominent Iranian parliamentarian has stated.

"The start up of the Bushehr nuclear power plant made clear that the Iranian government and nation have an indomitable spirit for progress towards utilization of new energy sources," deputy head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission in Iran's Parliament, Esmaeil Kowsari, said in an exclusive interview with IRNA News Agency on Saturday.

The Iranian lawmaker highlighted that following the victory of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, western states rescinded their contracts under which they were liable to construct and complete the Bushehr plant. The pre-commission of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, nevertheless, made clear that Iran relies upon its professionals and is resolved to set up other nuclear plants elsewhere in the country.

"The Bushehr plant will generate some 250 megawatts of electricity by September 2009 and another 250 megawatts by the end of next Iranian year (ending March 21, 2010)," he said.

The Iranian nation under the visionary leadership of the late Imam Khomeini struggled for control of the country's infrastructure - a matter earlier assumed by outsiders. Foreign firms, in return, repudiated their projects with an aim to indicate they are not committed to their contractual obligations.

Kowsari noted that Iran intends to build the 360mw Darkhoein nuclear power plant in the south of the country through domestic technical know-how.

Iran on Wednesday pre-commissioned its Bushehr nuclear power plant at a ceremony attended by the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Gholam Reza Aghazadeh as well as the head of Russia's state nuclear company, Sergei Kiriyenko.

Pre-commissioning is an important step before the actual commissioning of the power plant located in Iran's southwest.

The West remains critical of Russia's involvement in building Iran's first nuclear power plant. Moscow says the plant is purely civilian and cannot be used for any weapons' program.

Russia last year completed delivery of nuclear fuel to the station under a total contract estimated to be worth about USD 1b.

Moscow says the plant poses no proliferation risk, as Iran will return all spent fuel rods to Russia.

The West accuses Iran of covertly seeking to build nuclear weapons, something Tehran denies. The Islamic Republic of Iran insists its nuclear activities are merely aimed at generating electricity in a bid to meet its soaring energy demand.